Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, on Sunday, called for a rejig of the country’s security architecture when he paid a sympathy visit to Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, over the Oriire abduction incident.
The Bauchi State governor, who met with Makinde in his private residence, sympathised with the people and the state government over the abduction of teachers and pupils at Yawota and Esinele communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
The abduction has drawn public outcries and condemnations across the state and within and beyond the country
Mohammed and the call for rejig of security architecture
The Bauchi State governor called for a rejig of the nation’s security architecture as a means to guarantee the safety of the citizens.
He lauding the steps taken by Governor Makinde to ensure the safe return of the abductees, and expressed optimism that the release of the kidnapped teachers and pupils would soon be secured.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with his host, he said: “I am here with our leaders from the Allied People’s Movement (APM) to commiserate with our presidential candidate and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, about the travails that the people and the state government are going through as a result of the abduction of our school children and their teachers.
“It has been a lingering issue for some time, and we are really sharing with him the grief.
“We are here to encourage him that what he is doing to ensure their release is being noticed by the whole nation.
“And we join, on behalf of myself, the government and people of Bauchi State, to commiserate with him, and to encourage him, to ensure that these Nigerians are released.”
The Bauchi State governor expressed his readiness to assist the Oyo State Government in whatever way he could to ensure the early release of the abductees.
He added that the visit also provided him an opportunity to congratulate Makinde on his emergence as the APM presidential candidate.
“He is my jolly good friend, a young man with energy, determination and drive that can do a lot to change the trajectory of leadership and good governance in Nigeria,” he said.
Commenting on insecurity in the country, the Bauchi State governor stated that the nation’s security architecture required scrutiny.
This, he said was to birth greater commitment and better synergy among security operatives as well as between the security agencies and the citizens.
He added: “The security situation is a manifestation of lack of good governance, poverty, and the challenges of life.
“Beyond that, I think the citizenry should sit up and make sure that they take their destinies into their hands.
“People need to take their destinies into their hands to make sure that they don’t allow themselves to be informants or to play along with criminal tendencies.
“And, of course, they should take their destinies into their hands to make sure that they elect good people to lead them.
“Leadership is another function and they must make sure that they bring some changes, and they know where the shoe pinches. I don’t have to talk too much.
“We don’t have to exonerate ourselves at any level of leadership, at the sub-national, national or local government. But I think during the next election cycle, people should take their destinies into their hands.”
He was accompanied on the visit by some APM leaders, including the National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle; and the party’s governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu.
Governor Makinde was joined by the Secretary to Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde; Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Hon Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; and Senior Executive Assistant (General Duties), Chief Bayo Lawal, among others, to receive Governor Bala Mohammed and his entourage.
